"Heading into the holiday season, what city more closely exemplifies all that is glorious and beautiful about this time of year than New York? From the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to the ice skating at 30 Rock, from “A Visit from St. Nicholas” to “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” to “Miracle on 34th Street,” this city is the center of culture and the celebration of life here in the United States both now and around the calendar year.

How does one look at a city? A virtual tour is certainly in order – that is included in this week’s offerings. How about the history of the people, the neighborhoods and the buildings? What about the unseen city which serves as the lifeline for its inhabitants? Who can think of New York without referencing its museums, art and music? Then again, is New York the sum of its tourist centers or is it truly the story of its native inhabitants? However you choose to take a look at this larger-than-life metropolis, this week’s issue has resources for you.

With the fall of the World Trade Center, New York took on a new significance as a symbol of American life withstanding and enduring hardship. Never before had we thought of ourselves as vulnerable to that kind of adversity. More than all the images of destruction I carry with me from 9/11, what struck me most in the weeks immediately following that Tuesday was the way in which citizens in New York and across this country gathered together in one unified sentiment of support for this city. From the music arenas to the sports stadiums, the editorial pages to the Internet, we came together regardless of our geographic proximity to the city itself. It was a wonderful feeling to experience that kind of solidarity. New York was the focal point of uniting for a purpose larger than our individual selves.

In the early 1600s the Puritans came to this continent in the hopes of building a shining city on a hill for the entire world to see. For our ancestors this was as much a biblical vision as a political goal; an example of what humankind could accomplish if we put our best efforts forth as a community. Four centuries later I submit to you that our nation has produced that city in all its pain and glory, and it is New York. I hope you will thoroughly enjoy the recommended sites for this topic. It has been a pleasure bringing these resources together for this issue of the Digital Dozen! ....."